Sisters of Grass

by Theresa Kishkan

In her vibrant first novel Sisters of Grass, Theresa Kishkan weaves a tapestry of the senses through the touchstones of a young woman's life. Anna is preparing an exhibit of textiles reflecting life in central British Columbia a century ago. In a forgotten corner of a museum, she discovers a dusty cardboard box containing the century-old personal effects of a Nicola valley woman. Fascinated by the artifacts, she reconstructs the story of their owner, Margaret Stuart. Margaret, the daughter of a Native mother and a Scottish-American father, she tries to fit into both worlds. She's taught photography by a visiting Columbia University anthropology student that she falls in love with. With strong, poetic language, Kishkan makes the past reverberate through the present in a richly patterned work celebrating the complexities and joys of life and the sustaining connections of family.

Genres: Canada

260 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Marni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has the narrator as a current day museum curator at a local British Columbia museum. She received a box with a buckskin jacket, letters and photos from the early 1900's and crafts a story about a young woman who is part indigenous and her life on a cattle ranch and visiting her maternal grandmother on a reserve. The story is just so nice - I found myself smiling several times. She has written other books and I want to read them too.

[Elaine Robinson LaBar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Canadian author, local interest. Parallel stories of two women...set in the Nicola Valley ranchland in late 1800's. A little draggy, but overall a good story.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this weave of past and present stories centred around the curation of an archive and exhibit. Gorgeous writing.

[Steven Buechler]

When we look back at our ancestors, we often look at their belongings but do we really consider their thoughts, wishes and emotions. Theresa Kishkan has those of us who read her book doing that in Sisters of Grass.

my complete review

[Cristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by Brendan's Mom!